N.J. man sentenced for raping Monroe County girl

Michael Rosario, 28, of Bergenfield, N.J., was sentenced Monday to four to 10 years in state prison for raping a Monroe County girl when visiting her home in 2008, when she was 15.

A state police affidavit and trial testimony from the victim, who was not present at Monday's sentencing, give the following account:

Sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. Dec. 7, 2008, when Rosario was visiting the girl's home, he pulled off her pants while she struggled. He then hit her, exposed his penis and told her to touch it.

When she refused to do so, he pulled down the front of her shorts and raped her while covering her mouth with his hand. Martinez said Rosario later sent her an email, telling her to keep quiet about what had happened.

The girl finally reported the incident to police in May 2009, five months later.

Police interviewed Rosario at his job in September 2009. He said he had engaged in erotic conversations with the girl and that he later had a consensual sexual encounter with her that resulted in “slight penetration,” according to police.